Radicchio

I thought I knew all the fine Italian restaurants in Glendale. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon Notte Luna, a charming trattoria hidden in the alley between Brand Boulevard and Maryland Avenue. The place looked elegant, the service seemed attentive, and the aromas emanating from the kitchen were fantastic. Why were only two of the 20 or so tables filled? After enjoying a phenomenal meal there, I’m still trying to answer that question. I can only guess it’s because it’s hard to find.

Darleene Barrientos As they dipped spoons into sandwich bags full of homemade ice cream as they walked through Dunsmore Elementary School's crowded cafeteria, 6-year-olds Megan Ellison and Brigitta Call looked for their next experiment. "It was not hard," Megan said, referring to how the girls made the ice cream. "All I had to do was shake it and make it cold." Brigitta didn't like the experience as much. "It was hard because you had to get salt, and you had to use your fingers to get the ice," she said.

Cherie Mercer Twohy One translation of "far niente" is "doing nothing." But that's far from the case at this upscale Glendale establishment, which has been serving dishes from the Cinque Terre region of Italy for nearly two decades. From the bountiful floral display in the entryway to the old-world tin ceiling, coffered walls and black leather banquettes in the dining room, Far Niente Ristorante beckons with comfortable elegance. The white table linen and heavy cutlery are an indication of the fine dining to come.

The envelopes have been opened and the Oscars awarded, but most of us are still catching up on the "must see" movies. Before or after a screening in La Cañada Flintridge, Café Sole is a great place to catch a bite. Nestled between a big-name coffee place and a cellphone store, expectations for this place might not be high, but the family-run restaurant offers value and variety in pleasant surroundings. They've been here 10 years, so they must be doing something right! The patio is inviting on warm days or evenings, and heaters provide warmth when the sun will not. The interior boasts about a dozen tables, in view of the kitchen's bustle and flame.

A 25-foot-long salad bar with fruits and vegetables for every letter of the alphabet greeted students as they entered the cafeteria at John Muir Elementary School on Wednesday. Children walked the length of the buffet, stopping at offerings like jicama, kiwi, turnips and navel oranges, choosing whatever items appealed to them. The giant salad bar — which went along with a free lunch of chicken, rice, sandwiches and milk — was part of a school-wide nutrition fair organized by the Food Service Department of the Glendale Unified School District.

I thought I knew all the fine Italian restaurants in Glendale. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon Notte Luna, a charming trattoria hidden in the alley between Brand Boulevard and Maryland Avenue. The place looked elegant, the service seemed attentive, and the aromas emanating from the kitchen were fantastic. Why were only two of the 20 or so tables filled? After enjoying a phenomenal meal there, I’m still trying to answer that question. I can only guess it’s because it’s hard to find.